EQUIPMENT

• All players are to wear sneakers.
• No jewelry or watches are to be worn.
• Shin guards are mandatory.

PARTICIPATION

• All players must play at least half of each game. No one player may play the entire game unless his/her team has only enough players to field one team.
• Number of players on the floor:
  • Ages 3-5 4 v 4 no goalie
  • Ages 6-8 5 v 5 includes goalie, 2 offense – 2 defense

PRE AND POST GAME ACTIVITIES

• All games will begin with a pre-game prayer.
• All players and volunteers will line up at end of game & shake hands with opposing team.
• DURATION OF THE GAME & SUBSTITUTIONS
• All games will start with a 15-20 minute practice.
• Games will consist of four 7-minute periods with a running clock.
• Half-time will consist of 2-4 minutes.
• Substitutions: May be made at stoppages in game action.

START OF PLAY

• Direction/possession will be determined by a coin toss.
• Team with fewest goals will start each quarter.
• Following a goal, the game will re-start by a member of the team not scoring the goal kicking the ball at center court.
• The ball may go forward or backward

BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

• The ball will be played off all walls, spectators, curtain, etc. There will only be a dead ball when the referee deems it necessary.

GOALIE – 6-8 YEAR OLDS

• The goalie may touch the ball with his/her hands only in the goal area.
• The goalie may not be charged by an opposing player once gaining possession of the ball. One hand on top of the ball while the ball is on the ground is sufficient to define possession.
  
  
  
  8. FOULS & RESTARTING PLAY
  Slide-tackling is not permitted
  Direct kicks will awarded for fouls such as pushing, tripping, holding, etc. Goals may be scored from a direct kick.
  Indirect kicks will be awarded for fouls such as dangerous play, obstruction, etc. a goal may not be scored from an indirect kick. The ball must touch someone before a goal can be scored.
  Penalty kick: There will be no penalty kicks, fouls inside the box will result in a direct kick from the closest spot on the goal box line.
  An indirect foul committed by the defense in their own penalty area will result in an indirect kick taken on the goal line closest to where the foul was committed.
  On all free kicks the defender must stand at least 5 feet from the ball.
  
  9. OTHER
  Goals will be scored when the ball crosses the goal line. The referee’s decision is final on goals scored or not scored.
  Verbal abuse towards and confrontations with the officials will not be tolerated. If any such behavior continues after a warning is issued from the referee/YMCA staff, the coach, spectator, player will be asked to leave the facility.
  There is no offside. “Cherry picking” or an offensive player hanging around his/her offensive goalie is highly discouraged. Cherry picking does not teach much to the players. Players should focus on working the ball up court with passes, wall passes and teaching rotation.